The 5 Best Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Makeup Bags for 2023

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Our Picks

Versatile, eco-friendly, and STUNNING designs
Best for Conscious Fashionistas : Terra Thread
Stylish and as eco-friendly as it gets
Best Mini Bag: Sephora: KVD Bag
Supremely stylish vegan bag in a cute, mini form.
Best for Families: Me Plus Eco
Affordable with super-cute eco-friendly designs.
If you need transparency in your makeup bag, this is for you.

Are you looking for an eco-friendly makeup bag to sort out your beauty clutter?

We had to make do with cheap plastic makeup bags in the past, but today there are so many gorgeous, makeup bags that are made with the well-being of the planet in mind. I made it my mission to scour the web for the best examples, and now I’m happy to share my findings. 

I think you’re going to be thrilled with what I found.

Making Faces by Jane Davenport

Best Overall

Here we have this artsy makeup bag set from the “Making Faces” range by Jane Davenport. These bags immediately caught my eye and are even made from an eco-friendly classic canvas. I am such a sucker for beautiful designs!

The set is made to fit various sizes into one sizeable clear tote with fun and feminine designs. I love that at home I found myself using the bags to separate my makeup brushes from my palettes. And on weekends, on the road, they also make great travel pouches.

The smallest makeup bag is a great fit for on-the-go makeup touch-ups such as a lipstick and some powder. In fact, since they don’t look like toiletry bags, I have also used these bags for my USBs, chargers and keys.

I really appreciate how each bag design was created with a different medium in mind. Not only are they versatile, eco-friendly, and incredibly pretty - they also inspired me to try new mediums too, like new makeup such as matt and gloss lipsticks!

Terra Thread

Best for Conscious Fashionistas

Another great all-rounder. Terra Thread cosmetic bags are perfect for all sorts, such as cosmetics, travel documents, coins, chargers, etc. They even have a larger bag, which is excellent for shopping - I reviewed it as part of my eco shopping bag guide. (link to shopping bags).

All Terra Thread products are made from 100% organic cotton, making them not only vegan and cruelty-free, but also sustainable. A huge bonus is that they are also made at a fair-trade certified factory which means that the workers who made the bags are paid a living wage.

If you are a minimalist or know someone who is, I would definitely add this to the cart straight away - the bags come in a simple rectangular shape but with colors that are so delightfully rich!

Overall, I really enjoyed the quality of these bags. I’ve only been using them for a few weeks, but I think they're going to last me a very long time. The bonus is they don’t even look like cosmetics bags, so I don’t feel restricted to using them only for makeup.

Sephora: KVD Bag

Best Mini Bag

Ahh Sephora, our trusted beauty product friend. If you are a fan of makeup, you would have likely shopped at Sephora at some point.

I was thrilled to discover that Sephora has a stunning vegan leather option: may I present to you the mini travel bag by KVD.

The KVD eco-friendly cosmetic bag is hands-down the most stylish bag that I tried. Each bag is made of a black vegan leather with a metal zip. Just a reminder that this is a mini bag. If you need something compact to keep touch-up tools and lipstick on the go, this is ideal. However, if you want all your cosmetics in one bag, KVD will probably not do the trick.

It surprised me how affordable this mini bag is, but a small word of warning: I only realised that the front section was clear on arrival. I don’t mind, but it obviously depends on how you feel about your contents being visible.

UPDATE - No longer available via Sephora 🙁

Me Plus Eco

Best for Families

If you are looking for something that is both affordable and stylish, I would definitely recommend Me Plus Eco. You can pick from about 21 unique designs, and these eco makeup bags are made out of 100% canvas.

I find these bags are effortless to clean, and they look great on my vanity.

Depending on how many products you use, I would say you could fit a full face of cosmetics in one of these cute bags.

Since they were quite affordable, I purchased one for my brushes and a separate one for my makeup.

Me Plus Eco is a great all-round option, and I think they would also make a sweet gift, especially since you could use them for so much more than makeup (chargers, keys, feminine hygiene, etc.)

Paper Mart: Zipper Front Mesh Bags

Best Ease of Use

If you’re looking for a cosmetic bag that has transparency, BUT you don’t want clear plastic, Paper Mart’s Zipper Front Mesh Bags offer the view you seek but, thanks to the mesh, a bit less plastic. If you’re like me, continually digging for your lipstick, the mesh will help you see past all your troubles.

The bags have a very simple design; zipper, mesh, standard shape, but are very functional if that takes precedence over style. Paper Mart is definitely more of a bulk choice. If you want to brand for your products or just have a great variety of mesh bags at home for all the family members, this is a recommended choice.

This is the kind of product I would buy in bulk and have in a drawer for travel or quick storage. If they get a bit used after some wear and tear -- no big deal, just grab another one.

It is worth noting that not all of the products sold by Paper Mart are sustainable, like their vinyl bags - so if you go to their shop, double check your order before you purchase. This bag gets a Proposition 65 health warning due to the plastic, so tread carefully.

Makeup Bag Buyer’s Guide

Why should I be using eco-friendly makeup bags?

As with many things, if you decide to use a makeup bag with an eye towards sustainability; you are reducing the amount of plastic being put out in the world; you are reducing the amount of energy and water needed to create a product that is not degradable or recyclable and you might help take a stand against fast fashion. Eco-friendly bags are just one of many purchases we can make to make a difference. 

How can I get zero-waste makeup bags?

Some wonderful sustainable toiletry bags, cosmetics bags, and pouches are made of organic cotton, cork, bamboo fibers and other biodegradable materials. Just browse my reviews above and click through to the makeup bags that look like a perfect match for your cosmetic collection. 

Why should we be more zero waste and eco-friendly?

The main reason is to protect our planet. By striving for zero waste, we are reducing our footprint on the environment. If we can all reduce the amount of energy, water and resources used to make these products, together, we can make a difference while enjoying life’s beautiful luxuries.  

Can my beauty routine be zero waste? 

Definitely, there are wonderful options for cosmetics, storage, and makeup brushes that make up a very eco-friendly zero waste set. They often make these out of biodegradable materials, reusable materials, and sustainable ingredients. 

Final Thoughts

With so many great choices, I think a sustainable cosmetic bag is now a must-have. And if only one makeup bag is a “must-have”, for me, it is the stylish Making Faces by Jane Davenport. I simply adore this bag!

Remember that outside of cosmetics and brushes, you may also want to carry little cosmetics tools and lady things. One of my bags has deodorant in it as well as cotton rounds and q-tips for quick touch-ups. 

These days we are truly spoiled for choice in the eco makeup bag department. It wasn’t that long ago that finding quality fair trade, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly beauty products was a challenge. Today, it just takes a few clicks to find a great variety of choices. 

I hope you enjoy my picks. Drop me a line and let me know what is your favorite. 

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